I am in the market of 2005 SL500.

After checking out 2 SL500's(both 2005), I found one of the cars has this gear change buttons on the steering wheel, but the other doesn't.

I know on SL55 AMG, they all have the gear change buttons on steering wheel.
But for SL500, 2005 model year, is this an option or due to the production date, they put on as standard?

Thanks.

 

Shift controls behind the steering wheel means that car is equipped with the optional sports package. Same suspension, but some different looking body parts plus the steering wheel shifters.

 

I believe the car with the paddle shifters has the AMG Sport Package as an option. On my 2005 SL600 the package gave paddle shifters, AMG front and rear bumpers, and ugraded wheels. Compare the two 500's you are looking at and you will probably notice the differences.

 

As stated from the other two above me.....It means that the car is equipped with the Sports Package.

 

Thanks for your reply.

Actually, I checked both cars thoroughly, even the original window stickers show both have AMG sport package.
Same AMG front/rear bumpers, same wheels (5 wholes turbine).

That's why it makes me so confused one comes with the gear shift buttons but the other doesn't.....

 

One's either a fake...or the owner switched the steering wheel to non sport (which is not likely at all)

 

Very strange indeed. I was also under the impression that all 05's with AMG sport package had steering shifter buttons???

 

Very strange indeed. I was also under the impression that all 05's with AMG sport package had steering shifter buttons. WTF?

 

Still could not figure out why there are such different things.

Here are some photos I found on eBay
2005 SL500 with Sport Package.
if you look closely, you will see the black gear change buttons behind the wheel

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMG-S...QQcmdZViewItem

 

If the car had the original sports package, with the shifters on the steering wheel, maybe the previous owner upgraded from a leather to a wood steering wheel. The price for a wood steering wheel with shifters is about $2100 and without shifters about $800. So he would have saved mucho $$$ to give up the shifters there.

Does this car have a wood steering wheel now?

 

Yes, both cars have the "Wood Trim" package.
Probably like what you said, one upgraded to the "Wood Trim" package only, and the other went for the more expensive one.

Actually, I went test-drived the SL500 with shifting buttons. They act slightly different from the SL55(right button for gear up and left for gear down).

Those buttons are both bi-directional(one way for gear up and the other way for gear down). Similar to Porsche's tiptronic buttons.
I don't know if this is good but at least it may reduce the confusion when changing gear while you turn the wheel 180 degree.